Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-07-23
CORRESPONDEN
MORE 1BOUF GAMES.

FRosTBURG, MD., July %, 1887.
To the MINING JOURNAL.
You have been very kind to give space in
your columns for the discussion of a subject
so interesting and important as the above. If
all your subscribers have been as much
pleased and instructed by the exchange of
views as have been, the JOURNAL must sure
ly have been q welcome preceptor.
These discussions concern us all, more or
less. If we have not sons and daughters, we
at least have friends who are to-day growing
up amidst influences and temptations that, to
reflective mind are really appalling. Their
condition and circumstances demand at our
hands, therefore, mode of moral instruction
which shall strengthen them thoroughly, and
fortlfy them against the threatening attacks
of evil. How this can be most substantially
effected is a problem that comes home to our
everyday duties, and touches 4 principle
whose obligation we cannot easily shake off.
The first paper opposing the introduction of
cards and other games into club which is to
mold the habits and social intercourse of our
young men, was satire in the shape of
contra-resolutions, which struck hard at the
tendency and ultimate drift of the innovation
at issue 1t was followed by statements from
the clubs spokesman, who presumably at
tempted to defend the clubs principles. The
week following Rev. Mr.. Whitaker gathered
for our benefit number of excellent quota
tions from the writings of christian thinkers
divines and church DEGREES, apropos to the
amusements in question, disappearing them
in unequivocal terms. Rev. Mr.. Miller set
forth very clearly the demands of christian
consistency upon our conduct in relation to
every worldly environment OF l could in
fluence the preachers of Frostburg l would
have them oftener dwell upon this matter and
deliver discourses on so vital a subject.)
Then "Onc Of the Club essaycd to eluci-
date the doctrine of amusements from the
clubs standpoint of reasoning, with multi
tude of arguments that have inspired lis with
wonder, but not with conviction-save that
he is utterly wrong. The article is really
tawdry. 1t overrides every noble sentiment; ;
SCOTS at religion; regards the pulpit as place
of amusement to draw crowds. Granted, that
some of the ideas it expresses are valid, it
would be triiing matter to prove logically
that vice and crime, even treason must be
tolerated and encouraged.
This wonderful production of more Won
derful mind is hardly worthy of comment
but for the pernicious influence it may exert
upon some Of our young people. Let us eX-
anime one or two thoughts. The title con-
tains the most consistent idea about the whole
thing: secular interpretations ofScripture.'
They are peculiarly secular, unfortunate,
misleading and erroneous in the extreme.
Let me show you why that is necessarily the
case. If | should for instance, come before
the learned physicians of Frostburg and at
tempt to prove to them that they are making
grand mistakes in their mode Of practice, and
should prescribe to them different theory of
diagnosis, oftreatment and the administration
of mcdicne-what do you think they would
say? Why they would laugh at me and
make me an object Of public derision. In
like manner most people are moved, yea they
laugh when person tries to interpret a
sciencc-the grandest science of heaven and
earth-of which he knows nothing. The sec
uar mind knows nothing ofScripture. Flesh
has always been flesh, spirit has always been
spirit The lower can neither reach up nor
penetrate the higher. Better is little learn
ing coupled with temperance than much wis
dom in ones own coneeit